Who Run The World? 5 Exciting Female Rappers From Around The Globe

It's International Women's Day. Celebrate by getting to know five female rappers generating international shockwaves.

Once confined to underground parties in the South Bronx, hip hop has blossomed into an art form practiced in every corner of our world. As hip hop absorbs the musical traditions and trends of each culture it meets and the conventions of each language it inhabits, it produces new sounds and styles pushing global music forward.

The internet and social media have made it easy for fans to connect with artists living on the other side of the planet. In honor of International Women's Day, we've put together a list of five of our favorite female rappers from outside the United States. Click through the image gallery to read on.

Sianna | France

Sianna's family emigrated from Mali to the northern French city of Beauvais when she was eight months old. She cut her teeth as a member of the Beauvaisian rap group Crack House and signed a deal with Warner in 2013. It's hard not to see why Warner took a shine to her: even if you don't speak French, listening to her feels like she is roasting you with impunity. Did we mention she's just 21 years old?

Check out selections from Sianna's popular “Tour du Monde en Freestyle” series below.

Little Simz | UK

Those who frequent HotNewHipHop know that we are smitten with Little Simz, the British rapper who personifies the independent grind. Simz began rapping at age nine and put out nine projects before releasing her debut albumA Curious Tale of Trials + Person on her own label, Age 101. A skilled technician, an authentic lyricist, and a tireless worker, Simz is a quiet tour de force, and at age 22, she has yet to enter her prime.

Sampa the Great | Zambia/Botswana/Australia

Born in Zambia, raised in Botswana, and based in Sydney, Sampa followed her sublime 2015 project The Great Mixtape, which she described as a "search for creativity, laughter, purpose & rhythms," with her 2016 breakout single "Blue Boss." She frequently samples jazz guitarists like Wes Montgomery and George Benson, a habit that leaves streams of virtuosic musical ribbons running through her music.

GiGi LaMayne | South Africa

GiGi LaMayne's Instagram following of 100,000 fans is incongruous with the 1,280 views on her YouTube music video "Shisa," a veritable banger that evinces a strong Nicki Minaj influence.

LaMayne explained why she signed to the South African label Mabala Noise in a 2016 interview: “I was looking for a home, I was looking for a stable that understood the idea of family, the idea of artists pushing each other and the idea of the African child being able to penetrate into other industries," she said. "The idea of Mabala Noise is exactly that for the African child."

Karol Conka | Brazil

The oldest and most established artist on this list, Conka blends Brazilian percussion, (s/o the cuica), the spirit of New Orleans bounce, and the deranged synths native to the clubs of Ibiza to create a high-octane version of hip hop that easily transcends the language barrier.